Sudan’s beleaguered government is deepening ties with Russia. A delegation from the Sudanese oil ministry returned from Moscow on 21 November saying it stands ready to “facilitate the entry of Russian companies into Sudan,” to “restore what was destroyed by the war.”
The ministry says discussions with Russian state gas giant Gazprom focused on plans, first announced in July, to build a new refinery in Port Sudan (MEES, 2 August), as well as new crude and oil products pipelines. The country’s only commercial-scale refinery at al-Jaili just north of Khartoum has been trashed (MEES, 24 May) with the government earlier this year relocating to Port Sudan. (CONTINUED - 200 WORDS)